Stirrup



(No Model.) I i G. NIXON.

ST4IRRUP. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

llVVE/VTOR ATTORNEY N. PEIERS, Phnw-Ldhngraphen Washington. D. Q

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NIXON, OF SANDYVILLE, OHIO.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,992, dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed June 13, 1887. Serial No.241J06. (No model.)

To all 1072,0717, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE NIXON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sandyville, county of Tuscarawas, State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Saddle-Stirrups, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makiug part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in saddlestirrups; and it consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle'stirrup representing myinvention. Fig. 2 is same view of saddle-stirrup, showing an application of an additional or re'enforcing spring. Fig. 3 is same view of a saddle-stirrup, showing my invention as applied between the stirrup and the saddle. Fig. 4 is a view in perspcctive of a stirrup having one side of the bow disengaged, showing one manner of construction.

Similar letters of reference illustrate corre sponding parts in all of the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Letter A represents the bow of the stirrup, which may be made of any suitable material, preferably of malleable iron or steel; C, the supporting or stirrup strap, which may be of any of the well-known and appgoved kinds, and B one form of spring.

As shown in Fig. l, the lower end of the bow A is bifurcated, the prongs a spread apart as far as may be desired to form a broad base or support for attachment to the spring B. On the ends of the prongs a there are provided tenons b, and on the apex of the bow a loop, d, for the stirrup-strap. Said loop and bow may be integral, or the loop may have a pivotal or swivel connection with the how.

The spring B may be made of thin platesteel and of the form substantially as shown in Fig. 4, having a body portion, h, provided with perforations 7c and a spring portion, Z, which is narrower than the body portion and is turned back over the body, as shown in the accompanying drawings. The tenons b are placed in the perforations 7c and riveted in the usual way of forming such fasteniugs. The movement and elasticity of the spring may be regulated by the thickness of the spring-plate and the length and form of the spring. In using the U-shaped spring I prefer to enlarge the closed end, as shown at m, asby such form I find the spring more elastic and less liable to break.

I do not wish to confine myself to this particular form of construction, as the Ushaped spring as herein shown may be applied to many of the well-known forms of stirrup now in use by forming the spring as shown, except that the body portion h should be narrow enough to passinside of the bow, in which position the spring may be riveted to the bottom or cross-bar of the stirrup.

For the purpose of obtaining a stronger spring, or one adapted to support a heavy burden, I prefer to introduce a coiled-wire spring, D, as shown in Fig. 2, said spring to be made of such size of springwire as may produce the desired amount of resistance in the spring.

Another form of construction is that shown in Fig. 3, in which a coilspring, E, is placed between the stirrup and the stirrup-strap, or at any point between the stirrup and saddle. In this form my invention may be applied to any of the forms of stirrups and saddles now in use, and by the use of either of the forms shown and described much of the hardship now endured by persons whose duties demand that much of their time be spent on horseback isobviated, and it also increases the pleasure of those who ride on horseback for pleasure only.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, herein described, with a saddle-stirrup, of a U shaped spring adapted to form the foot-support of the stirrup, substantially as set forth. 7

2. The combination, herein described, with a saddle-stirrup, of a U-shaped spring form ing the foot-support of the stirrup and a coiled wider than its upper arm spring located between the arms of said U- stantially as set forth.

shaped spring, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 3. The combination, herein described, with my hand this 10th day of June, A. D. 1887.

,for the purpose sub- 5 a saddle-stirrup, of a U-shaped spring form- GEORGE NIXON.

ing the foot-support of the stirrup, said spring I Witnesses: being provided at its closed end with an en- CHAS. R. MILLER, larged portion, m, and having its lower arm V. K. MILLER. 

